CriticalCommonEngine

Ford Fiesta: Timing belt overdue on an interference engine (1.4 / 1.6 Duratec Sigma, incl. 1.6 Ti-VCT)

Timing belt overdue on an interference engine (1.4 / 1.6 Duratec Sigma, incl. 1.6 Ti-VCT) is a common engine fault on the Ford Fiesta on the 2004–2013 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $650 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 16 documented faults on the Ford Fiesta.

Vehicle: Ford Fiesta
Engine: 1.4L / 1.6L
Years: 2004–2013
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Ford Fiesta as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Fiesta faults16 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 1.4 and 1.6 Duratec (Sigma family) petrol engines in the WP/WQ and WS/WT Fiesta use a rubber timing belt that Ford specifies be replaced every 160,000 km or 8 years, whichever comes first. The engine is an interference design with tight valve clearances, so if the belt snaps or jumps a tooth the valves hit the pistons and the head is usually wrecked. Because of the 8-year age limit, every car in this range is now due at least once by time alone, and many low-kilometre cars have never had it done. There is no recall or warranty cover; it is a scheduled service item that owners often skip.

What you would notice

No symptoms at all before the belt fails, which is why the paperwork matters
Engine stops suddenly while driving and will not restart, or cranks with an uneven fast spin
Ticking or slapping noise from the right-hand (passenger side) end of the engine as a worn belt or tensioner flaps

How to check it

Where to look. Right-hand end of the engine behind the plastic timing cover, next to the right front wheel arch

Ask for the service book and an invoice that names the timing belt (cambelt) and tensioner, with the date and odometer reading. If the last change was more than 8 years ago or 160,000 km ago, or there is no proof at all, treat it as due now and knock the cost off the price. Look for a cambelt reminder sticker on the top of the engine cover, inside the bonnet or on the timing cover itself. With the engine running, stand at the right-hand end of the engine (the belt end) and listen for ticking, slapping or a whirring bearing noise. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask the workshop to remove the upper timing cover and check the belt for cracking, missing teeth, glazing and oil contamination, and to check the tensioner for noise and play.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$650 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When was the timing belt and tensioner last replaced, and do you have the invoice?”
“Was the auxiliary (fan) belt done at the same time?”
“Has the car ever stopped suddenly and been towed?”

Now check the Ford Fiesta you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarsGuide Q&A: Ford Fiesta 2012, what are the replacement intervals for the timing belt (160,000 km or 8 years)
CompleteCar.ie Ask Us Anything: When do I need to replace the timing belt on 2010 Ford Fiesta (petrol 1.25/1.4/1.6: 8 years or 160,000 km)
Professional Motor Mechanic (PMM): How to replace the timing belt on a Ford Fiesta (2008 1.25 Sigma, identified as an interference engine)
ClickMechanic Ford Fiesta timing belt and water pump replacement price estimates (1.4 petrol, 2 to 3 hours labour)

Ford Fiesta buyer questions

Is timing belt overdue on an interference engine (1.4 / 1.6 duratec sigma, incl. 1.6 ti-vct) serious on a Ford Fiesta?

We rate it critical and common on the Ford Fiesta. The 1.4 and 1.6 Duratec (Sigma family) petrol engines in the WP/WQ and WS/WT Fiesta use a rubber timing belt that Ford specifies be replaced every 160,000 km or 8 years, whichever comes first. The engine is an interference design with tight valve clearances, so if the belt snaps or jumps a tooth the valves hit the pistons and the head is usually wrecked. Because of the 8-year age limit, every car in this range is now due at least once by time alone, and many low-kilometre cars have never had it done. There is no recall or warranty cover; it is a scheduled service item that owners often skip.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Fiesta?

$650 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Fiesta years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2013 Ford Fiesta. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.